Abstract
BackgroundPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder with an estimated prevalence of 4–21% in reproductive aged women. The altered metabolic and hormonal environment among women with PCOS may increase their risk of some types of cancer.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive review of the literature using numerous search terms for all studies examining the associations between polycystic ovary syndrome and related characteristics and cancer published in English through October 2016. This review summarizes the epidemiological findings on the associations between PCOS and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers and discusses the methodological issues, complexities, and underlying mechanisms of these associations.ResultsWe identified 11 individual studies and 3 meta-analyses on the associations between PCOS and endometrial cancer, 8 studies and 1 meta-analysis for ovarian cancer, and 10 studies and 1 meta-analysis for breast cancer. Multiple studies reported that women with PCOS were at a higher risk for endometrial cancer; however, many did not take into account body mass index (BMI), a strong and well-established risk factor for endometrial cancer. The association with ovarian cancer was less clear, but a potentially increased risk of the borderline serous subtype was reported by two studies. No consistent association between PCOS risk and breast cancer was observed.ConclusionThe associations between PCOS and endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer are complex, with the need to consider many methodological issues in future analyses. Larger well-designed studies, or pooled analyses, may help clarify these complex associations.
Highlights
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder with an estimated prevalence of 4–21% in reproductive aged women
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder characterized by oligomenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries
First described by Stein and Leventhal in 1935 as women with polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea, and hirsutism [11], PCOS is currently clinically identified by one of three diagnostic criteria set by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Child Health and Human Disease (NIH/NICHD),[12] European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology/ American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE/ ASRM) (Rotterdam criteria),[13] and Androgen Excess and PCOS Society [14]
Summary
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder with an estimated prevalence of 4–21% in reproductive aged women. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder characterized by oligomenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries It has an estimated prevalence of 4–21% in reproductive aged women depending on the diagnostic criteria and population examined [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. PCOS is associated with metabolic abnormalities including dyslipidemia, First described by Stein and Leventhal in 1935 as women with polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea, and hirsutism [11], PCOS is currently clinically identified by one of three diagnostic criteria set by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Child Health and Human Disease (NIH/NICHD),[12] European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology/ American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE/ ASRM) (Rotterdam criteria),[13] and Androgen Excess and PCOS Society [14]. The prevalence of PCOS varies depending on the diagnostic criteria used with the NIH/NICHD criteria resulting in the lowest prevalence estimates followed by the Androgen Excess Society and ESHRE/ASRM [3]
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